World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on 28th July every year. But before you know about this day, you should be aware of the disease.
What Is Hepatitis?
This disease causes inflammation of the liver. This health condition can lead to cirrhosis, fibrosis, or liver cancer. The most common cause of Hepatitis is hepatitis viruses, however, using toxic substances such as alcohol, certain drugs can also cause hepatitis. There are 5 types of hepatitis viruses, namely, types A, B, C, D, and E. These viruses can lead to global pandemics and can cause several deaths. Type B and C are chronic and have killed hundreds of millions of people around the globe.
Hepatitis A and E are caused when a person eats or drinks contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C, and D are usually transferred from the body fluids of an infected person. Some common modes are of transmission are receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, contaminated equipment, mother to baby transfer during birth, etc.
World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day is one of the World Health Organisation’s seven officially mandated global public health days. Their main aim is to bring people around the globe under a single theme to raise awareness regarding growing viral hepatitis. In 2020, the theme of World Hepatitis Day is ‘Find the Missing Millions’. Themes from the last 6 years were:
In 2014, Hepatitis: Think AgainIn 2015, Prevention of viral Hepatitis. Act nowIn
2016, Know Hepatitis-Act now
In 2017, Eliminate Hepatitis In 2018, Test. Treat. Hepatitis In
2019, Invest in eliminating hepatitis
There are more than 290 million people in the world that are suffering from Hepatitis but are unaware of it. And without getting diagnosed, these people won’t get cured and will continue to suffer. That’s why on World Hepatitis Day, 2020, World Health Organisation want people around the world to raise awareness and take action to find the “missing millions”.
On this, the world’s hepatitis community unites to raise their voices to officials. This day celebrates the progress that medical technology has made to cure Hepatitis. This day gives all of us an opportunity to raises awareness and encourage government officials to bring change and facilitate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. On World Hepatitis Day, people can make their own WHD poster on the official site of World Hepatitis Day and raise awareness regarding the treatment of hepatitis.
Given below are the opportunities that WHD provides:
People can get aware of the different forms of hepatitis and how they are transmitted.Screening, strengthening prevention, and control of viral hepatitis and disease related to it. This day also gives people the opportunity to raise their voice to government officials, so that they can increase vaccines for hepatitis B.People from different countries can co-ordinate and can raise their voice against hepatitis globally.
We all should celebrate and find people who are unaware of having this disease. To ensure your protection, you should
buy health insurance from reputable insurance providers. This health insurance will take care of finances in case of medical urgencies.
